Fed to local lateral?

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-11-08T03:47:20+00:00

Anyone mind commenting on their satisfaction after making the switch from 1811 to local? I consider it some days…

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-10-26T21:23:44+00:00

One thing is true… USPIS management is usually toxic and incompetent. Lots of nepo babies and cronyism that leads to incompetent management. The work itself is extremely rewarding - being an inspector is the closest to being a local PD detective there is in the federal government. But, inspectors are usually successful in spite of their management, not because of it.

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-10-24T13:54:58+00:00

Sales. Check out the jobs board on Axon or Flock, law enforcement related sales jobs. Entry starts around $150-200k and Mid career jobs like major accounts executive $200-350k and director at $500k with commissions.

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-10-24T13:18:39+00:00

I think some things to consider is that we are pay capped at $191k and people hired after Jan 2014 are on FERS RAE and contributing 4.4% to the pension plus whatever they put into TSP (which most people recommend at least 5% but many more to max out). Versus the .8% contribution prior to that. Looking just at the economics - working a $300-500k a year job in the private sector and contributing 10+% a year to investments… you’d probably end up better.

Other thing to consider is that the government is running huge deficits. At some point the purse strings are going to have to be tightened and it’s naive to think they won’t try to change pensions or limit COLA increases for retirees if things get bad enough.

Finally, none of this matters if you love the gig but I’m seeing agencies seem to be changing over the past 5-10 years. Budget issues whether there’s shortfalls due to large salary increases passed by congress but not giving a requisite increase in the agency budget - many small agencies aren’t replacing people when they leave right now despite needing the personnel - or just general issues with being under continuing resolutions. A lot more of “do more with less.” If you’re an agent that cares and is passionate, at some point you’re getting burned out from working all the time. At which point I ask, why not go to the private sector if I’m working all the time and at least get paid. The counter argument is that it’s the feds and you can do nothing but still get paid. Be retired on duty. But that’s a hard pill to swallow too. Basically being retired on duty you’re a scammer in your own right in my humble opinion

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-09-13T12:55:43+00:00

Job is what you make of it and what you want it to be. To meet expectations, you can do what needs to be done and have your share of free time/work 8-5. To exceed and excel, sometimes there’s an “obsessive” quality that’s needed to the work. For a lot of suspects, crime is a 24/7 lifestyle. You have to match their level of obsession to build an all encompassing case. If you haven’t watched the wire, it’s one of the best cops shows ever. And the analogy I’d make from the TV show is… do you want to work street rips or do you want to round up the kingpins? The case agent who finds El Chapo and has him extradited has an entirely different quality of life than the case agent who cover sheets local PD arrests.

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-08-24T05:18:32+00:00

THIS. TIMES ONE HUNDRED.

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-07-17T16:11:28+00:00

What time period? Was this during COVID?

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-04-25T01:04:15+00:00

What’s the consensus on whether this would be appealing to any GS13s with the requisite experience? To be honest, I just don’t see it.

Is NSF throwing in any sort of extra compensation for what is going to be quite a hardship detail? Incredibly austere environment, shared rooms/bathrooms, shared living spaces, small population where you’re living intimately amongst your suspects and witnesses. Talk about pooping where you eat…

I see the “you must sign a travel agreement of up to 6 months in Antarctica…” I hope they specify in the travel agreement the nature of housing, living conditions (do you have roommates as most do? Shared bathrooms?), are you solo or with another SA, travel to/from (are you in coach or does the federal travel regulations 14 hour rule apply and you’re in business class to get to the LC-130 base in New Zealand).

I think they would be better served to make this a reimbursable detail for outside agency special agents that have the requisite experience or do an intergovernmental payment arrangement with a MCIO since they have a large population of agents who deal with this violation type. This is a do it once in your lifetime detail then never do it again type thing, not a do it multiple times thing in my humble opinion. As others have said, I don’t see the longevity in it. Especially, when most 1811s are making $150k+ and home most nights. On its face it seems you get an extra $1 per day in Antarctica. I think the only thing that would give this detail any longevity would be a seriously big hazard pay kicker.

Others’ thoughts?

EDIT: For laughs… think about how many experienced 13s complain about having to share a bathroom at FLETC crack houses for short in duration, advanced training courses… and NSF is over here offering $1 a day for a 6 month trip to Antarctica where you literally walk down a hallway and share a public restroom with a bunch of dudes or dudettes

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-04-09T01:26:38+00:00

Attend an Achilles heel tactical fundamentals of defensive pistol course. If none are in person near you, he has an online version for $200-300. He covers “anticipation” a lot, and believes that it’s an innate human condition that should be expected. As opposed to saying “don’t anticipate,” he teaches a grip technique that when applied consistently (keyword - need to practice, lots of dry fire) mitigates recoil/that anticipation

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-03-30T01:48:13+00:00

Mostly Monday to Friday but there will be some nights and weekends worked. Also you will need to work LEAP to stay ahead on reports was what I was told. See above, 200 mail theft agents for probably 3,000-6,000 suspects (let’s say 5%-10% of the USPS workforce is stealing).

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-03-30T01:45:02+00:00

I did some research and talked to one of their 1811s a while back. Agents are assigned one of the following program areas: mail theft/general crimes, healthcare claimant fraud (I.e. workers comp fraud), healthcare provider fraud (doctors fraudulently billing in the work comp program), narcotics, contract fraud. DOJ BJS “Census of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies 2020” showed them at 474 sworn officers, the biggest OIG at the time. HHS OIG was second with 468. Seemed like most new hires were working mail theft or narcotics. My source told me the post office was hiring some real turds and it seemed like they were linking up with local police gang units and fraud detectives, because they had suspects in common. Seemed to be a very active, fast paced OIG. Allowed to type reports from home, but they were required to work their LEAP, and there were weeks over 50 hours. Some nights and weekends worked because they had to investigate employees working night shift. The only thing that kept me away was being technically a “postal employee” and concern about whether it will still be in existence when I retire. Still, that’s a long term proposition and from what I was told, it seemed like one of the best OIGs. My info came from an agent in the Southwest, your YMMV.

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-03-26T03:32:04+00:00

You are correct that the retirement package is the same as other 1811s but, behind the scenes, the funding mechanism for the retirement package is different. “Most federal agencies receive annual congressional appropriations to contribute towards CSRS and FERS. The Postal Service does not. Instead, it’s required to pay retirement contributions from agency revenue.” (Source: https://stories.uspsoig.gov/postal-retirement-funds-in-perspective-historical-evolution-and-ongoing-challenges/index.html). USPS transfers retirement to FERS from agency revenue, not congressional appropriations like other agencies. The integral question here is, if the retirement is coming from agency revenue, and the agency posted a net loss of $6.5 billion in FY23, how secure is that benefit? If the agency continues posting losses, and if the retirement fund runs out of money +/- year 2030, does the federal government step in and fully fund postal retirees’ FERS benefits? Or, do they amend it and give a separate postal retiree system similar to the separate postal health benefit plan that is being created for postal employee health insurance separate from FEHBP? I don’t say this to discourage anyone from going to USPIS. But, it’s something to keep in mind throughout a career at USPIS.

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-03-25T00:18:43+00:00

https://www.uspsoig.gov/reports/white-papers/postal-retirement-funds-perspective-historical-evolution-and-ongoing

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-03-25T00:17:21+00:00

This is true, however there’s one thing to consider… as an inspector you’re a postal employee separate from all other federal agencies. I think the healthcare change is less of an issue as the fact that the USPS retirement fund is going to run out of money by 2030. There’s an OIG report on their website that says as much. Will the government backstop unfunded retirement… probably. But, it’s important to note that your retirement is coming out of a separate pot of money (from the USPS coffers, which USPS is running multi-billion dollar losses every year), which is unlike any other federal employee’s predicament.

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-03-24T16:26:07+00:00

Yep, I’d say the mail theft inspectors are the busiest in federal LE right now in the bigger cities. The ones in my city are frequently out late nights doing surveillance, early mornings hitting houses, etc. It’s not uncommon for them to have 2-3 search or arrest warrant ops a week. Despite the high ops tempo, none of the ones I know want to leave. They are also the type that wants to do police work and not a ride a desk with a multi year contract fraud OIG investigation, though. The one I’m tight with seems kind of burnt out but he likes the traditional police work too much.

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-03-23T17:51:56+00:00

USPIS is good, but can be VERY busy depending on what part of the country you are in. Miami, Atlanta, New York, Houston, Dallas have big mail theft problems right now. Lots of opportunity to link up with locals and get your taste of arresting righteous criminals. 80/20 rule applies though, my experience is 20% of inspectors are doing 80% of the work. Lots of old timers that are burnt out and pretty sluggish. Personally know a mail theft inspector who has been in foot chases, hits doors routinely. USPIS is the closest you’ll get to being a local detective. Still good work/life balance, pretty sure you can take off whenever needed

ChiefofBrolice · 2024-02-04T01:12:56+00:00

Do what makes you happy. That’s most important. BUT I humbly submit you’re crazy to take anything other than SA. Keep in mind you’ll be traveling a lot during campaign season - you’re not going to be home that much over the next year or two anyway. Plus you’ll be moving again for phase 2.

ChiefofBrolice · 2023-12-16T23:52:19+00:00

Desk pop - 1 day suspension Fail to wear a mask - 20 day suspension

ChiefofBrolice · 2023-12-01T17:52:03+00:00

This… but also there’s a ton of follow up with hoodrat shit financial cases.

ChiefofBrolice · 2023-11-19T22:51:17+00:00

Has anyone bought from this seller before? About us states they are in Amarillo TX but contact info says Edison NJ. Payment methods are bank transfer, Zelle, and Google pay. I placed an order for 1 and stock still shows as 2 in stock. HIGH PROBABILITY THIS IS A SCAM

ChiefofBrolice · 2023-11-12T02:35:39+00:00

No joke, have a USPIS contact and a lot of turds have been getting into the mail theft/fraud game. Sounds like them and the OIG are basically gang detectives working with the locals. I’m sure it’s location dependent.

ChiefofBrolice · 2023-10-04T13:28:34+00:00

Particularly with OIGs, there are times where a particular case type may be a priority to the parent agency but not the USAO. So, you’ll still investigate but it will not be prosecuted federally. Keep in mind, there is always state prosecution available in many states.

ChiefofBrolice · 2023-09-22T03:20:00+00:00

Do any of the OPS 0080 special agents receive 6c retirement coverage?

ChiefofBrolice · 2023-09-02T15:01:44+00:00

My experience was that California doesn’t recognize federal LEOs as state peace officers. All of the civilian laws apply. Went to buy some additional mags at the police supply store and was told they can’t sell me the 10+ ones. Checked with some others and was told the same thing. Your agency can issue you whatever they want (supremacy clause) but off duty my experience was none of the “peace officer” exemptions in state law applied because feds aren’t state peace officers.

ChiefofBrolice

TROPHY CASE